Katie picked up the book in her gloved hands.
Nothing happened.
Sighing with relief, she opened the book-then remembered something. "Where are my glasses?" She normally could see well enough without them but trying to read, especially fine script like that written down here, was next to impossible.
"Um, I think I found them." Tiffany had almost stepped on the glasses with her oversize foot; quickly she handed them to Katie.
Katie stared at the glasses; even they had been 'clownified.' Heart shaped prescription lenses were set in pink frames that even Elton John would have considered gaudy. Breathing in exasperation, Katie took them and placed the glasses on her head.
Three words written in Gothic Script: THE CLOWN CURSE. Underneath was written:
ALL WHO TRY TO READ THIS BOOK
HEED WHAT I WRITE DOWN
ANY WHO TOUCH THIS BOOK
WITHOUT SAYING THE PROPER WORDS
SHALL BE TURNED INTO A WHITEFACE CLOWN.
ANYONE WHO SEE'S SOMEONE AFFECTED BY THE CURSE AND,
LIKE A SILLY GOOSE,
TOUCHES THE BOOK SHALL BE CHANGED
INTO THE WHITEFACE'S AUGUSTE.
TO RETURN TO NORMAL YOU SHALL HAVE TO RIFLE
THROUGH THE LIBRARY'S BOOKS.
BUT TIME IS SHORT; SOON YOU SHALL BECOME
CLOWNS IN MIND AS WELL AS LOOKS.
Katie let the book fall from her fingers; it hit the floor with a THUD. "What's the point in giving a warning you couldn't read until after the curse activated?" she wondered aloud.
"What's going to happen to us?" Tiffany was sobbing; but now even crying sounded silly coming from her.
Katie looked at the bookshelves surrounding them. There were so many books-and she had no idea how much time they had...